Whatever Andrew wants …

OK, it’s official. Wine sales in the state’s supermarkets is an idea that effectively is dead. At least during the current administration.

Governor Andrew Cuomo yesterday said he is against the idea that has been pushed during at least the last three state budget-creation periods. Anyone who has been watching Cuomo II’s record of getting what he wants knows chances of anything he doesn’t support coming to fruition has two chances — slim and none. He did not include the possibility in this year’s budget even though he was looking for new revenues and new reductions; respected wine industry estimates project a $300 million increase in business if such a law were passed.

The Last Store On Main Street, a lobbying group made up of some wineries and lots of retail stores and liquor stores, has been against the idea from day one. In typical histrionic fashion, group founder Jeff Saunders released a statement lauding Cuomo’s stance, pushing the idea that “Big Box” stores are the prime movers behine the wine-in-markets idea and — get this one :

“The Governor knows that this dangerous idea would kill thousands of jobs by putting Mom-and-Pop shops across upstate New York out of business, while increasing underage drinking in communities across New York by putting high-alcohol content wine in every deli, minimart, gas station, bodega and corner store that now sells beer.”